MANILA – Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III and the San-En NeoPhoenix continued their winning ways in the 2022-2023 Japan B.League Division 1 by beating Toyama Grouses 102-92 on Wednesday night at the Toyohashi General Gymnasium.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles star tallied 16 points, including an outside conversion, to go with nine assists, five rebounds and a steal as the NeoPhoenix hiked its record to 14-16.
Former NBA center Kyle O’Quinn led the way for the NeoPhoenix with 24 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, while Takanari Sasaki, Kosuke Kanamaru and Daniel Giddens had 14, 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Bryce Johnson had double-double 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead the slumping Grouses (6-24), while former TNT Tropang Giga import Joshua Smith added 19 markers, seven rebounds and five assists.
Thirdy’s elder brother Kiefer Ravena and his squad Shiga Lakes (4-25) continued their slump as they bowed to Hiroshima Dragonflies (25-5) at the Shiga Daihatsu Arena. Kiefer was held to just eight points to go with five assists and three rebounds in the defeat.
Meanwhile, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins stretched their winning run as they cruised to an 84-77 victory over Shimane Susanoo Magic over at the Matsue City Gymnasium.
The former TNT Tropang Giga guard tallied nine points to go with 10 rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes of action as the Diamond Dolphins continued their winning ways for a 22-8 win-loss record.
Scott Estherton top-scored for the Diamond Dolphins with double-double 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Takumi Saito and Coty Clark chipped in 16 and 15 markers, respectively.
Matthew Wright and the Kyoto Hannaryz (12-18) was also victorious as Osaka Evassa (14-16), 87-77, at the Kyoto City Gymnasium. The former Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters gunner tallied 13 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Matthew Aquino, for his part, was held to just two points but Shinshu Brave Warriors (16-14) still scored a lopsided 91-71 victory over Sunrockers Shibuya (12-16) at the National Yoyogi Stadium Second Gymnasium./PN
